If you've been wondering patiently what Xbox games you can play on your new Xbox 360 at launch time, your wait is finally over. Microsoft has released a list of Xbox games that will be backwards-compatible with the next-gen gaming console. The good news is that the Xvox 360 will be backwards-compatible with over 200 Xbox games at the November 22nd launch date. The better news is that original Xbox games will be displayed in 720p or 1080i High Definition Television format, so Xbox games will look even better on the 360. Be sure to check out what Xbox games will work on your Xbox 360 and which ones won't by looking at the Xbox backward-compatibility list for up-to-date info. Thanks to IGN for the heads-up.

USER COMMENTS 66 comment(s)

!ST POST(3:43pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)Will the games be HD or will the 360 just send an HD feed for lower res. pics. - by LORDWICKET

Sigh(3:45pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)So to sum up what 'backward compatibility' has turned out to be for the 360:

* There is no backwards compatibility.* Microsoft is essentially doing quick and easy ports of whatever titles they feel like* Whatever other titles will become available is up to the whim of Microsoft – and they were never keen on BC to begin with.

Blah.

- by Cheif

well(3:57pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)Halo 2 is on the list.

im good to go. - by imExcitebike

The list is incomplete(3:57pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)It is a preliminary list that isn't through being updated, so sit back and watch it grow before your eyes.

Cheif, did you read the list? I would say that your first fanboy bullet is incorrect. Your next two are assumptions based on your personal bias towards the system.

- by Early Adopter

early adopter(4:03pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)that list is a final list. no more games will be updated.

ms is a big company, they do what they want when they want. and they dont care. its not a secret or anything. - by ChuckyCheese

XBOX 360 Backwards Compatability Titles…(4:04pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)Just took a quick glance-over, wow… Missing A LOT of titles… Noticed one of my personal recent “fun” games “Destroy All Humans” was even missing… How were the titles chosen? Blah… No BLU-RAY or even the lesser HD-DVD, and not even planned backwards compatability? As I have a PC w/XBOX 360 controller and 7800 GTX – the PS3 and Revolution look like the consoles to watch for now! - by TYJK

crappy(4:07pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)I dont own a single game that is on that list. Also, I'm surprized that there are not more microsoft games supported. Notably Halo 1, and 2, and Jade Empire - by Whiskers

early adopter(4:08pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)MS are doing quick and easy ports, they have had to resort to providing 'profiles' to allow Xbox games to work on X360. Essentially the profile is a special purpose driver that emulates the specific NVidia features used in the game originally by translating/transforming the API calls to ATI compatible API calls. So ewach game on the list has been ported to the new box. Granted the game is not recompiled in PowerPC code, it's still native x86 code, but that's emulated too.

It's a cool way to go about providing some measure of backward compat, especiallya s they were not originally going to offer it, and the graphics H/W is so different.

I have no doubt that the list will grow some, but it will never offer the level of backwards compatability that Sony provided in the PS2, and seems commited to provide in PS3.

Whether the degree of compatability and/or number of games 'up-ported' to X360 is sufficient for you I don't know. As the saying goes YMMV, personally I'd have said that they were better being clear and either doing BC in full of completely skipping it. Once again though, YMMV. - by X360 Cynic.

Pretty sad(4:09pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)I mean, to have to develop a new software emulator for each game kind of suggests that Microsoft didn't invest all that much time really in the new Xbox.

They took a new CPU and Video card and slapped together another OEM box.

I think the problem here is that MS burnt all their bridges with the co-developers of the Xbox, Intel and nVidia. In both cases, relations became strained, and as a result, MS couldn't go back and rely on these companies to come up with some hardware based emulator chip to be implemented in the Xbox360. It would have been nice for MS to simply throw in some embedded Pentium II CPU, a mobile nVidia GPU, and some Xbox-on-a-chip solution to support old XBox games. Considering all these technologies are now 5+ years old, you could probably squeeze them all onto one low-power chip.

I.e. just like what the PS2 did to support the original PS games, put the PS on a chip and embedded it in the PS2.

I doubt the xbox games supported won't run at full speed. Anything MS tries to emulate (re VirtualPC) runs slow as a dog, chances are most people won't want to run old Xbox games on the new 360.

It was a nice attempt, and if they did manage to pull of full-speed emulations of their more popular titles like Halo, it could be beneficial, but this is definitely MS playing catchup to a feature that should have been designed into the Xbox360 from the start.

Then again, how many “popular” titles have MS come out with that don't have Halo in the name?

Hopefully Sony is watching and not planning some software based emulation scheme for PS2 games.- by Topher

TYJK(4:12pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)I have an ati radeon x800xl and it does about 200 million more triangles then the xbox 360 will but I dont even have 1/3rd of the the processing power since its going to a tri core 3.2 ghz + about 9.6 ghz so you cant discount it yet because your computer isnt going do do that well either. when it somes do it its the processor that really matters I only have a amd athlon 64 3500 granted and that is pretty decent but my computer wont perform nearly as well for it because the games wont be optimized like it is on a game cycle. As far as nintendo goes I hope that the inovation will work but I doubt that it will. and sony they will send you something defective littered in excuses - by mr. spock

glanced too quick(4:15pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)I take that back, upon looking closer Halo1&2 and Jade Empire are on the list. - by Whiskers

badd(4:22pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)An emulator? LMFAO. The games will look great in HD, but will lag just like any other emulator. Sony already takes the cake with backwards compatibility, and Nintendo is on the right track by opening up their catalog of games. M$ doesn't have clue.Sony = teh win - by FatSonyFanBoy

And Another Thing(4:23pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)Since these are new executables that you are going to have to download I am really suspicious if they will play exactly like the originals.

I would want to hear from real gamers who are familiar with the games who can vouch that they really are the same games and not full of all sorts of subtle timing issues and other non-obvious differences.

- by Cheif

The games are FORWARD compatiable(4:25pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)with the new conosle, rite? - by Cindy

re: FSFB(4:39pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)

“This trend – started by Sony with the PS2, as backwards compatibility in home consoles was certainly not the norm before then – is set to continue with the PS3, which will offer emulation for the PS2 and hence for the PSone.”

LMFAO.SONY DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE… EMULATION… WTF???SONY = THE LOSER. - by

Just a few notes…(4:40pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)This is list is by no means final, additional game profiles will be added for download through xboxlive. As Doug noted backwards compatible games will play at either 720p or 1080i, plus they will all have FSAA, so they should look quite a bit better than they did on the xbox. Bungie actually has screenshots of Halo with the upgrades:

In all it's probably about as much as we could have hoped for. Keep in mind many consoles have had zero backwards compatibility. If they can add more titles I would imaqine they will be in pretty good shape. - by El Barto

Can't believe this is a geek forum(4:48pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)some of you have no idea how emulation works in terms of bc

as for the PS3, if anyone gives their money to Sony for ANYTHING after the Malware debacle with their audio cds, then they are part of the problem with big corps. Make yourselves heard. Boycott Sony, don’t encourage their irresponsible behavior that has punished so many for buying their product legally. If you do buy a PS3, Beware the restrictive format that will be blu ray. You think they want to control their music content? Just think about their gaming content and how much potential dollars are involved. Your blu ray drive will be discussing your childhood and your favorite colors once you decide to network it with all of your other online devices. Sony is in the business to make money like the rest of them, unfortunately their business plan involves some very unfriendly consumer practices. It is a necessary evil when you make the hardware and the content. The difference between sony and apple is that apple has done it in a successful and consumer friendly manner, whereas sony just said “The consumer doesn’t even know what a rootkit is, why should they care if it get installed or not?” - by Early Adopter

Halo(5:00pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)Which of those two screenshot is better?

1) The original one with sharp textures and jaggies

or

2) the 360 one with blurry textures and less jaggies

?

I don't give a damn about minor graphic changes. I want to pop my xbox disk in the 360 and just play. I don't want to download anything. I don't want to wait for Microsoft to finally decide to take the trouble to port games.

If Sony can do it and Nintendo is talking about doing it, WHY THE HELL CAN'T MICROSOFT.

- by Cheif

You can't play any backward games without a HD(5:10pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)Xbox 360 old-game support needs hard drive – MS

Microsoft has posted a list of 212 Xbox games that are backward-compatible with the Xbox 360 – but only next-generation consoles with a hard drive.

- by

huh(5:42pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)yeah yeah yeah yeah, bla bla bla. you ppl downplay both 360 and ps3 now, but when the systems come out, your all gonna own a ps3,360, and revolution. all these systems are gonna be 100x more powerfull than their predecessors. just because the systems carries the ibm,ait,and nvidia brand name doesnt mean its gonna be another pc. nintendo,nec,sega all used chips that were once used for desktop computers in the early 80's. - by bla

huh(5:56pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)ooooooooooopssss. nevermind, ive seen pics of 360 games and they look a little better than xbox games,for now. damn the dinosaurs in kingkong for 360 look shitty.i guess they still cant give objects curves, they look like boxes. - by bla

re: cheif(7:52pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)

there you go fanboy… ps2 is not 100% backwards compatible… and the ps2 model number SCPH-75000 does even play all ps2 games.

I'm still waiting on sony to update certain PS1 games so I can play on my ps2 and I am waiting on sony to update certain ps2 games so I can play on my ps2. - by

Sony…(8:59pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)Ohh old sony, so nice…

Not even the PS2 itself can play all games…WTF? yeah not even current compatibility, how can we hope for backwards?

Sony consumers are either donkeys or retarded humans. - by says me

Chief(9:11pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)Chief you are a troll just like fatsonyfanboy, if you can't tell that 720p with 2x FSAA is better than 480p with no AA then you shouldn't be posting in this forum. That is hardly a “minor” graphics change as you claim. But guess what, if you don't like the 360 don't buy one, none of us are too worried about whether you have one or not. As far as the PS3 goes backwards compatibility is a non-issue for the time being it won't be out until xmas 06'…at the earliest. - by El Barto

To the guy with no name…(10:34pm EST Mon Nov 14 2005)They give a list of the games that don't work in your link. Also, in your link, they say that short little list of games that don't work are out of 8000 titles. Third, this condition of certain specified games that don't work on the SCPH-75000 model of the Playstation 2, is specific to THAT model of Playstation 2. Models SCPH-70000 and earlier don't have that compatibility issue.

You ARE right, though. The Playstation 2 is not 100% backward compatible, models aside. Most people know that. It's more like 99% backward compatible. )

About the Xbox360, it's bad enough it'll cost an extra 100 simoleons to play your old Xbox games, even worse when this addon will not make your Xbox360 even 25% compatible with Xbox games that you may already own.

Good for me that I still own my original v1.1 Xbox. I suggest you guys relying on backward compatibility out of your Xbox360 to forget it. Just buy yourself a regular Xbox before Microsoft discontinues them next year. ) - by Ramza Beoulve

I don't know what's worse… xbox 360 not being 100% backwards compatible with older gen xbox games… or ps2 not being 100% compatible with current gen ps2 games?

you don't have to pay 100 “simoleons” to be 100% backwards compatible… if you own an xbox game, you must already own an xbox… now plug that into AV2 on your TV… and VOILA… 100% backwards compatibility… I know it's hard to comprehend… much harder than checking what model ps2 you are buying to make sure it is 100% compatible with the current gen games. - by

Xbox 360.(1:43am EST Tue Nov 15 2005)Not nearly as much hype this time around. I think people were underwhelmed last time.

Feels like there isn't nearly as much anticipation for any of the systems this time around.

Or could it be that there are so many games that are basically a rehash of what we've seen a million times.

Hopefully someone will come up with a fresh angle. - by bored

only good game on X-box is(1:44am EST Tue Nov 15 2005)Only good game is nightcaster - by dd

To the guy with no name…(3:11am EST Tue Nov 15 2005)“the important games are there… halo 1&2, jade empire, fable, gta 3 vice city and san andreas, the simpsons(both), ninja gaiden(both),…”

Not to me, they aren't. I only have 4 Xbox games, and 2 of them are unplayable, as of yet, on the Xbox360. All are pretty high profile titles.

“you don't have to pay 100 “simoleons” to be 100% backwards compatible… if you own an xbox game, you must already own an xbox… now plug that into AV2 on your TV… and VOILA… 100% backwards compatibility…”

I wasn't speaking for myself. I mean those unfortunate of you who are banking on more than 25% of all the Xbox games out there being playable on an Xbox 360.

“I know it's hard to comprehend… much harder than checking what model ps2 you are buying to make sure it is 100% compatible with the current gen games”

As I said before, I addressed MY issue with backward compatibility in my previous post, so no need to repeat to me what I already stated. A couple of other things. The SCPH-75000 model Playstation 2 is a Japanese Playstation 2, so you don't have anything to worry about unless you live there, or import.. especially since you already know (I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt here) that only the SCPH-75000 models of Playstation 2 suffer from that incopatibility issue. Lastly, by the way, deducing what model Playstation 2 you have is as simple as looking at the label on the back. I know this may be hard for you to comprehend. - by Ramza Beoulve

Controller(7:51am EST Tue Nov 15 2005) I hope to god that the new PS3 controller vibrates. I just love when I play my PS2 the controller goes all crazey on me and vibrates in my lap it just tickles my tushey and my lil walnuts. Oops sorry guys and gals this is a side of me that dosent get out very often so my boyfriend says.. - by FatSonyFanBoy

Backwards compatability my arse!(8:49am EST Tue Nov 15 2005)I agree with Cheif. There is no Backwards compatability. Out of the box you will only be able to play ONE of the old Xbox games. You have to connect to Xbox live to download an emulator for each of the game you wish to play. Backwards compatability – what a load of rubbish.

And also, I don't realy care, my last console was a SNES. - by MFBD

re: u know(8:58am EST Tue Nov 15 2005)the ps2 model # SCPH-75000 does not play ATV offroad 3 and everquest… WTF… THEY ARE FRIGGIN PS2 SONY TITLES that don't play on a PS2. - by I know. do you?

Re:Backwards compatability my arse!(10:52am EST Tue Nov 15 2005)Actually connecting to Live isn't the only way to get the updated profiles, you can download them and burn them to a CD from Xbox.com, or order a CD (yes you have to pay shipping and handling) and get the latest profiles from MS. Also you don't have to connect to the internet each time you put in an old game, only have to connect if the profile isn't in the last batch you have. Why all this hating on emulation? The Revolution is going to be doing the same thing and you have to repay (except Gamecube titles) for classic titles (no cartridge slot to use old games you may already have), also no one knows how Sony is going to do their backwards compatibility yet (haven't seen anything in the specs for the PS3 saying that it also has an Emotion engine in it along with Cell). The initial list isn't horrible, it has glaring omissions, but according to the MS they are still working on expanding it (I am ticked that Doom 3 and Jet Grind Radio aren't there, but they say more are coming). When I pick up the 360 I'm most likely going to be focused on Kameo and Condemned, but I'll also play old titles too, only a few won't work out for me, but then I'll fall back on the old Xbox, it'll be the same probably when I pick up a PS3, and the Revolution (thank god they are a year away my habit's going to drive me to the poor house LOL). - by ShadowSelf

New Better Anyways(5:58pm EST Tue Nov 15 2005)They might release a update later on support more games.

These news reports mean nothing!

Anything is possible don't get caught up in all this crap.

It's not that big of deal to make the games work on 360 it's just why?

Are you tossing out the old XBOX?

I play a game on the XBOX beat it then what keep playing same game over and over?

I am ready for new games better graphics and sound I personally could care less I am putting the old XBOX in a spare room with all the old games.

I rather rent them at least the ones I play to just beat it for the reason it was made.

Only games I am gonna buy are online multiplayers and don't want to play Halo or Halo II on this machine if it doesn't take advantage of the HD experience!

- by Just_Opinions

why worry about backward compatibility(7:09pm EST Tue Nov 15 2005)The XBOX 360 is a huge system, and all the old games are pointless to play on the new one, they would look no different. The problem is games cost like 60 dollars which is pretty bad. I am getting the system and a couple of games for free so the backward compatibility doesn't matter.This site gives them away free with free shipping just for doing free offers through companies like AOL and stamps.com(USPS) its really a pretty easy site and it doesnt cost anything, check it out.

- by z-dizzle

I think(7:13am EST Wed Nov 16 2005)It's disapointing there is no backwards compatability out of the box. But I suppose the emulation is something at least, still, I think many people had higher hopes of backwards compatability that were not met. If I said anything wrong in my last post, then oh well, you don't actually have to know anything to post here :) - by MFBD

ShadowSelf's comment(10:05am EST Wed Nov 16 2005)Dude, people who already own the xbox games aren't going to want to connect to the internet and get emulators for games (and the console) they might already own. With the revolution, you can download the games off the internet, games you may not have. My point is that its stupid to have to download emulators for games you already have that can be played on the last generation console, if you know what i mean. It's a good idea to download old classics that you don't have. Besides, i live in Butt F**k nowhere, ontario, canada, and don't have high speed internet where i live, so connecting to the internet or getting the emulators from mailing companies etc, is going to be a major pain in the butt just to play my Xbox games. - by Chrisguy

Then again…(10:06am EST Wed Nov 16 2005)getting the old revolution games will be a pain as well too. DAMN YOU BELL AND YOUR CRAPPY DIAL UP!!! - by Chrisguy

HAHAHHAAHA….(10:50am EST Wed Nov 16 2005)You must be a complete fucken lame ass if you dont have hi speed internet! And your a gamer. You limey ass lame retarded pudd wackers. Ive got the shizzel for hi speed and I wont have a problem with getten downloadable content. MS is looken toward the future you dweebs. So go spend some money and get the hi speed internet or fucken write your government if you live in BF egypt and tell them you want hi speed in your area. If you have the money hi speed will come - by DWEEB SLAYER

Re: Chrisguy(8:55am EST Thu Nov 17 2005)Dude you don't have to connect to the internet to get the latest emulator profiles at all, as I stated you can get an update disk from Microsoft as well, you will have to pay shipping and handling in that case though. Also since the emulator upadates can be burned to a CD using a computer it would be possible to get a copy of them from a friend who does have a high speed connection. - by ShadowSelf

xbox games to on the xbox 360(6:07pm EST Sat Nov 19 2005)I am asking to know what xbox games will work on the xbox 360 because I like the old xbox games as well as the xbox 360 games when will we know because there some games that I would like to buy on xbox 360 - by Darren Bacciochi

XBOX 360(8:05pm EST Wed Dec 07 2005)XBOX owner and happy to be I haven't yet bought the 360 but I bet that sooner or later the XBOX platform games will rarefy compares to the Sony PS titles.I take for granted the huge amount of games available on PS2 while on XBOX just few. I believe the same will happen on the 360.I believe that even if Sony is developing blu ray well is just a fuckin games platform so sooner or later fuck the Xbox and go on Sony.More games is more fun!

ya bunch of Wincks - by Big Daddy

who cares?(4:19pm EST Thu Dec 08 2005)I just want to know how many people actually will play xbox games once they have a 360? i, and many of my mates bought a PS2 at launch, and i can 100& truthfully say that i put Gran Turismo 2 into it once to check that it actually was backward compatible (it was new at the time, had to see it to belive :p) and that was it, once the games were 5x better in ever department i never wanted to play any PS1 titles again on it! and neirther did any of my mates.

I got a 360, i got PGR3 (so no need to play 1 or 2 anymore!) and perfect dark, that also voids ANY xbox FPS as it's so much better.

Maybe it's just me and my circle of friends, and i can see some real classic, re-playable games that maybe of reason, but in genreal i don't see backwards compatiablity as a big selling point… “oh i can play my 20 ps2 games on the ps3, yippy!” …. if you think like this then why are you buying a PS3 if your going to be happy playing your current crop of games?

Also to the xbox haters, of which there are many, i've had no problems with my 360 so far, it's slick as hell and online gaming is so much more fun as it actually works on this console! i still can enjoy a sony console, but unless they came up with some amazingly better, which in my eyes hasn't been proving so far, espically with them dodgy as hell new control pads, then i'm sticking with xbox. - by Barry

And Also…..(4:24pm EST Thu Dec 08 2005)….the fact you can download classics like Gauntlet & Smash TV with many others to come has to be a great advantage for xbox 360? these are the classics i'd want to play, not ones i played and completed last year on my xbox. - by Barry

My name……(6:35am EST Tue Dec 13 2005)My name is Glynn Cross. I am a boy of 16 years and I think I am a raging queen. I have innate tendencies to erotically seduce other males and do dirty things to their naked bodies.

I love men, in other words.

If you are ghey and want to hook up and bum, just give me a ring on 07765262823.

) - by The_Boy_Lover

Glynn Cross(6:37am EST Tue Dec 13 2005)My name is Steve Woods and I want to hook up and bum.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I think you sound well fit.

xxxXxxx

Love Ste. X - by The_Boy_Lover_Lover

To those above me(6:53am EST Tue Dec 13 2005)My initials are JP and I also want to hook up with the two of you and I want a super hXc threesome with you too.

I loves me some threesomes with boys. Mmhhmm I do.

XxxxXxxxXxxxXxxxX - by JP

Steven Woods(6:55am EST Tue Dec 13 2005)My name is Steve Woods. I am grossly homosexual and I am also a homosexual.

I teach homosexualityology to boys and I am well ghey. I do physically LOVES the cack.

Love Steve

Kiss Kiss. (to the boys only!!!!!!!1)

xxxxXxxxx - by Steven J. Woods

glynn (the phag) cross(6:55am EST Tue Dec 13 2005)can i just say my name is glynn i really love to penatrate boys its the best thihng ever i remember the first time i did it whilst walkin home 1 day i saw a little boy crying i said wats up?? then for no reason ran off intot the woods and bumed him - by glynn cross

ste the fatty(9:29am EST Tue Dec 13 2005)my name is steven woods i am sorry to say i am ghey i love the coc.k i am also very very large(fat) and have the smallest peanis on record. if u would like to bumme ring 07837547920 call me for some hot naked sweaty action or if u just wanna compare size - by steven woods

Forwards compatibility(9:26am EST Tue Aug 08 2006)will xbox 360 games work on the original xbox? I am thinking about getting the xbox because I am short on money tight now. Since Microsoft had got to stop making xbox games sometime, I was wondering if the new games work on the old system. - by Randy

backwards thing(5:23pm EST Thu Oct 12 2006)can you play xbox 360 games on ur xbox cuz i dont want to buy a xbox 360 and then all the games cuz they dont make anymore good xbox games - by joefred